He was the main contact for peace brokers such as Norway as well as other key international players involved in attempts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the island's protracted separatist conflict.

"The LTTE supreme council is in session at present discussing arrangements to honour him," the Tigers' Rasaiah Ilanthirayan told the BBC Sinhala service.

This year has seen a sharp escalation of violence in Sri Lanka.

Mr Balasingham held a British passport and lived in London. The UK classifies the Tigers as a terrorist group.

When news of his illness emerged in November, he said: "It is an unfortunate personal tragedy.

"However, when compared to the vast ocean of the collective tragedy faced by my people, my illness is merely a pebble," he told the pro-rebel Tamilnet website.